Action and drama
Everyone hoped that Melbourne's reputation for thrills and spills might rehabilitate Formula 1 after the storm of criticism for Bahrain's 90 minutes of tedium - and the Australian GP certainly delivered. The rain helped, but cars were going wheel to wheel long after the track dried, and the new rules worked too: the mix of cars making worn tyres last while others pitted then charged back added a lot to the spectacle.
Interesting technical controversies
Little bits of technical intrigue are a key part of F1. When they turn into full-blown rows over imperceptible components resulting in disqualifications, hasty redesigns and misery, it's no fun. But when it's a case of very clever people going head to head with intriguing innovations like McLaren's F-duct and the rumoured ride height devices being used in qualifying, then it helps keep news ticking over, and underlines just how much intelligent technical imagination the F1 paddock possesses.
Jenson Button
This win was worth far more than 25 points to the world champion. He proved he wasn't mad to go up against Lewis Hamilton at McLaren after all, succeeding with his new team long before even he thought he would.
Robert Kubica
Welcome back to the front, Renault. Quickest in first practice was a promising start, and Kubica reckoned he would've been higher up the top ten if his car hadn't taken exception to Saturday's cool temperature. His tough race drive was yet another reminder of his talent - not everyone would have kept that Renault in second under such concerted pressure.
Paul di Resta
Young Scot di Resta's first experience of the VJM03 in the dry came in Friday practice - at a track he didn't know and with 23 race drivers swarming around trying to get on with their business. But he coped superbly and looked totally at home as he set the 11th fastest time. With no moans from Adrian Sutil about having to vacate his cockpit for a test driver, it looks like di Resta will get plenty of practice this year. He also shrugged off a surprise intrusion from a shark while having a publicity photoshoot on a beach...
But the Australian GP was a BAD weekend for...
Lewis Hamilton
In the race, he drove brilliantly and produced some of the finest overtaking moves of his life. That hour and a bit of pleasure aside, this was a rough few days for Hamilton. His over-exuberance in a road car on Friday night earned both police attention and global newspaper coverage, and was followed by a miserable qualifying session. It was Mark Webber's mistake that cost him a top five finish, but even before that he was already having an unseemly rant at his team over the radio after McLaren called him in for a mid-race tyre change. Oh, and the team-mate he was tipped to totally blow away took a brilliant win. When things go wrong for Lewis, they really go wrong...
Red Bull
Having the fastest car in F1 - which Red Bull clearly does right now - is of little use if it starts falling apart mid-race each time. Vettel has been excellent this year, his pole lap in Melbourne being particularly jaw-dropping, but he doesn't have a lot to show for his speed. Webber's chaotic run to ninth didn't brighten the team's spirits either.
Virgin Racing
So the winter rumours were true: Virgin's fuel tank really is too small for its cars to make the finish. Some would argue that this won't matter as the chances of a Virgin VR-01 seeing the chequered flag are so slim anyway, while the team insisted the problem wasn't as dramatic as paddock gossip suggested - and that at most circuits the drivers would either be fine or only require a slightly fuel-conservative driving style. Luckily Richard Branson was on hand to reiterate his faith in the team, and remind his audience that teething troubles weren't unheard of in Virgin's escapades. And his immediate reaction when told of the fuel tank cock-up? A succinct but expressive "F*** me!"
Michael Schumacher
Let's not drift away with nostalgia - Schumacher's 'first' F1 career was not an uninterrupted string of successes and did feature a few dud races. For instance in his final season he crashed out of the Australian GP having earlier been wheel to wheel with a humble Toro Rosso... at least this weekend he didn't crash. The trouble is that back then such performances were blips amid the excellence. Since his comeback the only 'classic' Schumacher performance has been his minor spat with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton over qualifying blocking. How long till people start speculating that he will abandon his return...?
Kobayashi's front wings
One smashed on a marker cone in practice. Another detached when a weakened mounting broke a little later in the session. A third one dislodged on lap one, prompting a massive accident. Kobayashi's aggressive style can make for exciting viewing, but it's not much fun for his front wings.
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